University of Minnesota, Morris

First Year Seminar 2009

IS 1001, First-Year Seminar (FYS), is designed to be an introduction to liberal arts at UMM. Each section is organized on the theme of human diversity. During the first week of the term, all sections participate in a convocation presented by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean. Students then move on to explore their specific topic as listed inside this brochure. Students may be asked to attend other activities or programs outside of class.

Pick a few sections that interest you. Your advisor will help you select a section based on your choices that also fit the scheduling of your other courses.

Class #	Section	Instructor	Start Time	End Time	Days	Room
54445	1	Eisinger, Joel	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	MW	HFA 6
54447	2	Kearns, Kristin	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	MW	Sci 1030
54449	3	Benson, Katherine	2:15 PM	3:05 PM	MW	HFA 18
54451	4	Eisinger, Joel	2:15 PM	3:05 PM	MW	HFA 2
54453	5	Bezanson, Mary Elizabeth	2:15 PM	3:05 PM	MW	HFA 23
54455	6	Pelletier, Julie	8:00 AM	8:50 AM	TTh	IH 114
54457	7	Gashaw, Solomon	9:00 AM	9:50 AM	TTh	IH 101
54459	8	Anderson, Tracey	10:00 AM	10:50 AM	TTh	Sci 2185
54461	9	Anderson, Tracey	11:00 AM	11:50 AM	TTh	Sci 2185
54463	10	Odello, Denise	12:00 PM	12:50 PM	TTh	HFA 185
54465	11	Kearns, Kristin	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	TTh	Sci 2200
54467	12	Odello, Denise	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	TTh	HFA 185
54469	13	Cotter, James	2:00 PM	2:50 PM	TTh	Sci 2185
54471	14	Blodgett, Jayne	3:00 PM	3:50 PM	TTh	Sci 2190
54473	15	Pelletier, Julie	9:00 PM	9:50 AM	TTh	IH 114
54475	16	Gashaw, Solomon	4:00 PM	4:50 PM	TTh	IH 112
54477	17	Bezanson, Mary Elizabeth	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	WF	HFA 23
58402	18	Stefanek, Kevin	10:00 AM	10:50 AM	TTh	Sci 1030
58403	19	Stefanek, Kevin	11:00 AM	11:50 AM	TTh	Sci 1030
58404	20	Beaver, Joseph	10:00 AM	10:50 AM	TTh	Hum 111

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation.

Insects and Human Culture
The influence of insects on human society extends far beyond the realm of science. Insects inspire artists, musicians and writers. They are revered as religious symbols and used as metaphors for what we fear most. They spread deadly disease and have influenced the course of human history. In some cultures insects are a prized culinary delicacy. And, they are the most abundant and diverse group of animals on our planet. Through readings, discussion, short writing assignments and student designed projects we will investigate ways in which insects intersect and influence human culture.

54459 Section 8 TTh 10:00 10:50 Sci 2185 Tracey Anderson, Biology

54461 Section 9 TTh 11:00-11:50 Sci 2185 anderstm@morris.umn.edu

Plagues and Peoples

From the Black Death to bird flu and syphilis to smallpox, human societies and human biology have been shaped by disease for thousands of years. This course will follow the history of endemic and epidemic diseases, examining not only the social, technological, and biological adaptations humans have made to a variety of diseases, but also the ways in which we have unintentionally helped diseases spread.

58404 Section 20 TTh 10:00 10:50 Hum 111 Joseph Beaver, Anthropology

jbeaver@morris.umn.edu

My Wonderful Life

Now that you got into college, what do you think your life will be like when you get out? Do you want to go home to live with your folks in the basement? What kind of work would you like to do? Will it satisfy your and your family’s needs? Do you even want a family? Are you thinking of ways you can “give back” as a volunteer? What happens after work? We will talk about all the choices you have in today’s global community, consider research about lifespan development and career-planning, and then focus on how you can make your choices a reality. Class will consist of talking, reading, Web searching, short written assignments, projects, and listening to the life experience of others outside of class and in.

54449 Section 3 MW 2:15-3:05 HFA 18 Katherine Benson, Psychology

bensonka@morris.umn.edu

Are You Brighter than a Supreme Court Justice?

Do you like to argue? Tired of Judge Judy fussing over who pays to fix a car? Join me and we will argue about something really important: free speech. Think the First Amendment protects your right to say anything-anyplace-to anybody? You might be surprised! We’ll learn about the diversity of human approaches to free speech protection around the globe; we’ll discuss and debate free speech cases in the U.S.; you’ll argue cases before our own Supreme Court. Hey, time for talking is over-let’s argue.

54453 Section 5 MW 2:15-3:05 HFA 23 Mary Elizabeth Bezanson, CMR

54477 Section 17 WF 1:00-1:50 HFA 23 bezansme@morris.umn.edu

From Animal House to The Graduate: Higher Education in Film

The purpose of this FYS is to allow incoming students to explore the college experience through film. We will examine the history of higher education as well as contemporary social and developmental issues, including friendships/relationships, affirmative action, “political correctness,” and faculty/student interactions. While the class will focus more on the issues related to higher education, there will also be some discussion of current film theory. The class will consist of film viewings (outside of class), appropriate readings, discussion and in-class and out-of-class writings.

54471 Section 14 TTh 3:00-3:50 Sci 2190 Jayne Blodgett, Library

blodgetj@morris.umn.edu

Out of Africa – The Peopling of Europe, Asia and the Americas

Genetic evidence indicates modern humans (Homo sapiens) had their origin in Africa. This course will explore the geologic and climatic influences on human migration to Europe, Asia, and ultimately the Americas. We will also discuss changes that resulted from this migration, the end of Neanderthal, new technologies, and the development of racial variations. Finally, we will discuss intelligence tests in light of the out of Africa theory.

54469 Section 13 TTh 2:00-2:50 Sci 2185 James Cotter, Geology

cotterjf@morris.umn.edu

Exploring Whiteness to Combat Racism

This class will be based on a series of readings, lectures, and discussions that will help students understand white racial identity and its history. We will address such issues as: the history of racial pseudo-science and race as a social construct; how the racial past affects the present; how we experience racial categories in daily life; recognizing white privilege; what it means to be a non-racist white person. Students of all racial identities are welcome in this class.

54445 Section 1 MW 1:00-1:50 HFA 6 Joel Eisinger, Art History

54451 Section 4 MW 2:15-3:05 HFA 2 eisingj@morris.umn.edu

Sociology of Globalization
Why study globalization? Globalization is not only the buzz word of the day but has also captivated the imagination of many of people. No one is immune from its direct or indirect effects. Globalization is an elusive concept; it means different things to different people. Indeed, it has different and conflicting meanings. For this course, we will define globalization as a concept that refers to a process of integration of diverse countries or regions of the world. The process occurs through integrating the economics, politics and cultures of the world into a single unit. Globalization can be taught in different ways. In this course, we will take a political economy perspective. This course examines major issues related to globalization, its promises and pitfalls. It will also present various theories that deal with globalization. The course will clarify what globalization is and how it is affecting societies around the world.

54457 Section 7 TTh 9:00-9:50 IH 101 Solomon Gashaw, Sociology

54475 Section 16 TTh 4:00-4:50 IH 112 gashaws@morris.umn.edu

Our Future in Space?

Since the birth of the Industrial Age, scientists, politicians, poets and pop stars have been envisioning a future in which humans set out (or are driven) from the “pale blue dot” of Earth to make our mark on the cosmos. Today, multiple companies exist for the purpose of building low-cost reusable space flight vehicles for the masses, and the President of the United States has instructed NASA to “build new ships to carry man forward into the universe, to gain a new foothold on the moon, and to prepare for new journeys to worlds beyond our own.” Is the future finally here? We will survey the diversity of past and present visions of a space-faring future, ponder the slippery slope between fact and fiction, and investigate the current state of knowledge and technology in order to make our own expert predictions of our future in space. Students will work individually and as a team to identify and investigate compelling questions, and document and communicate their discoveries.

54447 Section 2 MW 1:00-1:50 Sci 1030 Kristin Kearns, Physics

54465 Section 11 TTh 1:00-1:50 Sci 2200 kearnsk@morris.umn.edu

Music, Culture, Identity

We all listen to music, and identify particular pieces and styles that represent who we are, or how we feel about something. This process of using music as a means of shaping and defining one’s identity can be seen in many cultures, on both an individual level and in larger social groups. This course will explore how music both expresses and shapes a diverse array of identities (ethnic, national, gender, among others) through an investigation of several specific examples. Course work will include readings, short papers, class discussion, and a short presentation. Attendance at a concert, and purchase of a student priced ticket, will be required.

54463 Section 10 TTh 12:00-12:50 HFA 185 Denise Odello, Music

54467 Section 12 TTh 1:00-1:50 HFA 185 odell059@morris.umn.edu

Imagining the American Indian

Stereotypes of the indigenous peoples of the U.S. shape our understandings and perceptions and have also affected policies, history, and artistic representations. Through readings, discussions, and films, we will examine the implications of stereotypical representations of American Indians.

54455 Section 6 TTh 8:00-8:50 IH 114 Julie Pelletier, Anthropology

54473 Section 15 TTh 9:00-9:50 IH 114 pelletja@morris.umn.edu

Mind and Body: Learning Mental Skills through Martial Arts

Mental skills such as stress management, imagery, and concentration are learned and practiced by elite athletes as well as business executives.  These skills and more will be introduced through readings, analyzed during discussions, emphasized via practice of martial arts skills and techniques, and applied to students’ individual needs.  Readings will come from current psychology and sport psychology literature as well as traditional Asian martial arts passages. Students in this course will engage in physical activity.

58402 Section 18 TTh 10:00-10:50 Sci 1030 Kevin Stefanek, Social Sciences

58403 Section 19 TTh 11:00-11:50 Sci 1030 stefankk@morris.umn.edu